Earth's Greatest Magus

A month had passed since the catastrophe at Eclipse Island.

The wounds to Emery’s cultivation had not vanished, but they had stabilized.

His Second Cosmos realm, once fractured, had regained structural coherence. The first layer of his cosmos had recovered to near its former peak, circulating smoothly with controlled radiance. The second and third layers, however, remained cracked and dim. Full restoration would require time and deeper comprehension, not brute force.

In contrast to his damaged cultivation, his domain had flourished beyond expectation.

[Domain Size: 21,350 square miles]

The number alone was staggering. The land had enlarged nearly tenfold from its previous state. Even now, the domain proceeded its subtle expansion, responding to Emery’s gradual recovery.

Beyond the widened seas and rising mountain chains, new landscapes had emerged as his recovery stabilized the internal balance of laws.

To the south, vast stretch of golden desert now shimmered beneath an eternal sun, its dunes layered with refined earth essence and hidden veins of metallic ore.

To the north-east, high plains rolled endlessly beneath open skies, grasslands nourished by wind and water elements that intertwined in natural harmony. Further beyond, frost-kissed tundras had begun forming at the higher elevations, where snow gathered along sharp ridgelines. These frozen regions did not clash with the surrounding land; instead, they complemented it, feeding rivers that flowed downward through the plains and into the central sea.

The eight fundamental elements-earth, water, fire, wind, lightning, wood, ice, and metal-now manifested in balanced distribution throughout the domain. Fire pulsed quietly beneath volcanic ridges in the west, while lightning occasionally arced across storm-heavy skies above the northern waters. Wood essence saturated the Elysian Forest in the east, causing the trees to grow taller and denser. Even subtle threads of darkness and light, drawn from his deeper comprehension, flowed beneath everything like unseen roots, binding the domain together.

It was no longer a crude sanctuary-it was a living ecosystem shaped by layered laws.

The Chizpurs and Dark Orcs were adapting quickly to their new environment. The river separating their territories had widened considerably, its currents bright with domain energy. Emery had intentionally expanded the distance between them, hoping that space would reduce tension and conflict. For now, both factions seemed focused on cultivating land and fortifying settlements.

Emery observed all of this with quiet satisfaction before turning his attention to his own dwelling.

What had once been a modest cavern carved into stone had transformed into a fortress rising from a central mountain peak. Positioned strategically between the dark mountain range to the west, the luminous Elysian Forest to the east, and the distant Star Beast Island across the northern waters, the structure symbolized equilibrium.

With a single thought, the mountain shifted.

Stone parted and reshaped itself under his will, forming a broad chamber within the peak. This became his apothecary hall-rows of stone shelves rising along the walls, reinforced by subtle formations to stabilize heat and spiritual pressure. Adjacent corridors unfolded into meditation rooms carved above converging elemental streams, a secured treasure vault layered with spatial seals, and deep below, a reinforced holding chamber built for dangerous captives.

Everything was precise. Controlled.

Yet as he arranged what remained of his treasures, a quiet sigh escaped him. The battle with the Astiel had cost more than he liked to admit. Embernight and Frostveil were destroyed. The Chromacircle Rings were gone.

And the super golem, annihilated in the confrontation with the High Inspector. He had sent its fragmented core to Vic, hoping the young dual master could restore it, but even Emery knew such reconstruction would not be simple.

After a moment, he pushed the thoughts aside. He brewed several potions. Taking what he needed, he exited his domain.

Klea was already waiting.

“All done?” she asked softly.

He took her hand.

“Yes”

They stepped out of their chamber and into the palace corridor, where Rosia and Morgana were waiting.

“Let’s go,”

All four of them stepped through the portal and emerged within Golden City, the familiar golden glow of its skyline reflecting off distant mountains. They did not linger. A Karat transport awaited them, carrying the group toward the outskirts of the city where the terrain rose into a range of radiant peaks.

At the heart of one such mountain stood a massive structure of metallic gold and dark crystal, its surface engraved with dense formation arrays that shimmered faintly even in daylight. The air around it hummed with restrained

power.

Several figures were already waiting outside-two grand magus flanking a younger-looking magus whose aura felt both steady and refined. The moment. Emery sensed him, recognition flickered.

There was something familiar in that presence.

It took Emery a second to recognize him. “Senior Vayarel?”

The man laughed warmly. “Yes… in a new form.”

He was Karat’s grand magus who had spent decades alongside Emery within the Leviathan’s belly. Now he possessed a newly reconstructed body and stood at the peak of the Magus realm.

“I apologize for missing your wedding… congratulations,” he added, turning to

Klea with a gentle smile.

They were led inside.

The interior of the facility was vast and symmetrical, layered with overlapping formations that pulsed like the veins of a living organism. At the center lay an open circular arena, its floor carved with complex sigils designed to resonate

directly with cosmic law.

This was the Divine Instrument.

A rare construct capable of guiding a magus through the most dangerous phase of cultivation-cosmic tribulation. Few factions possessed one. The Karat were fortunate to have secured it. Emery had seen similar structures in the Nephilim

sanctums.

“Thank you for allowing me to use this,” Klea uttered sincerely.

Veyarel waved it off. “After what your husband did for our faction… lending you

this is the least we can do.”

They gathered for a final briefing.

A cosmic tribulation was never simple. Especially not for someone like Klea. All expected that her breakthrough would not be ordinary.

The formations surrounding the arena were activated one by one. Their purpose was clear: draw cosmic energy efficiently, channel lightning and void pressure toward the center, and dampen excess destruction.

Positions were assigned.

Morgana and Rosia each took a quadrant of the outer formation, ready to

stabilize any collapse. The two Karat grand magus mirrored them on opposite

corners. Emery remained closest to the center, just outside the primary

boundary, his eyes never leaving Klea.

He handed her two vials.

One to strengthens her body against lightning and elemental fracture,the other

to accelerates recovery.

She nodded and accepted them.

“Good luck,” he murmured.

Klea stepped into the center of the field and rose slowly into the air. She closed

her eyes and turned inward, gathering every insight, every ounce of spirit force

she had accumulated.

Then, without hesitation, she shattered the soul within her own soul.

Crack.

Energy flowed outward in a spiraling eruption. Above the arena, the sky darkened unnaturally as clouds began to form within the enclosed structure itself, drawn by the resonance of cosmic law.

Klea remained suspended midair, her body enveloped in radiant light as void currents formed around her core, pulling energy from the heavens.

The Divine Instrument flared to life.

Her cosmic tribulation had begun.